Top Nine Nightlife Destinations in Guangzhou in 2025

Welcome to the ultimate guide to Guangzhou’s bar streets and dining precincts in 2025! Whether you're a foreign trader, tourist, or local looking for a good time, this guide takes you to the heart of the city's nightlife, where fun and flavour collide.

From rooftop bars with jaw-dropping views to electrifying party scenes and buzzing dining districts, discover where to sip, snack, and dance the night away in Guangzhou’s most exciting spots. It’s the perfect mix of great food, lively atmospheres, and unforgettable nights out!

In Guangzhou, there's a classic saying that goes, "食在广州" (shí zài Guǎngzhōu) — "Eat in Guangzhou." It's a phrase that captures the essence of the city, known for its vibrant food culture, from street snacks to Michelin-starred dining.

But Guangzhou isn't just about food. For the adventurous, it’s a place where you might find yourself at a lively KTV (karaoke) session with locals or enjoying late-night shopping in one of its ultra-modern malls.

For foreign traders and tourists looking to explore the city's nightlife, Guangzhou offers a mix of international flair and local charm. Whether you're winding down after a busy day of business meetings or looking to unwind with friends, the city has options.

From sophisticated international bars to trendy nightclubs, live music venues, and authentic international eateries, this guide takes you through the must-visit spots in Guangzhou's nightlife scene in 2025 — an exciting year where the city's nightlife is bigger, bolder, and better than ever.

Many foreign favourite bars & restaurants didn’t survive Covid, relocated or relaunched. TripAdvisor is hopelessly out-of-date with ‘top’ restaurants that no longer exist. This is our curated and verified best destination for bars and restaurants in 2025.

• Haizhu Square (海珠广场): Classic Canton

Haizhu Square has been revitalised post-Covid and was once the “it” spot of Guangzhou nightlife. Long gone are the thumping clubs like “Bound,” “Hei Hei” and “Baby Face” in the 2000s, which were the go-to spots before the rise of downtown Tianhe and Zhujiang New Town had.

Recently, a flagship location for the British pub, the Happy Monk have opened in a contemporary development with commanding views over the Pearl River - towards Zhujiang New Town. Not far away from Happy Monk is the Indian restaurant Masala King.

Tips: To get to Happy Monk, take the metro to Haizhu Square station - the interchange between Lines 8 and 6 and then take Exit C

• Canton Place (广粤天地): Fine Dining

It is in an up-market residential area with a large commercial piazza and some of Guangzhou’s swankiest restaurants. There are Italian, German, Japanese, Spanish, Mexican, and Argentinian restaurants, a burger joint and a contemporary European dining concept.

Our top dining pick at Canton Place is the French grill restaurant “Le Hachoir,” and we recommend that you check the newest bar on the circle, “The Embassy (MBC)”.

Tips: Canton Place is a brisk but pleasant walk from either Liede or Tancun stations – Line 5 through a leafy residential neighbourhood.

• Canton Tower & Party Pier (琶醍): City Lights & Sights

Located along the banks of the Pearl River, Party Pier is one of Guangzhou's most vibrant nightlife areas. The post-industrial nightlife zone was one side of the Zhujiang Brewery and has been transformed into the dedicated nightlife area, the Party Pier.

Known for its dynamic blend of international bars and riverside clubs, it's the go-to destination for those seeking a lively atmosphere with stunning city skyline views. The most “Instagrammable” venue of them all at Party Pier is a rooftop bar and restaurant “Jojos Riverside”.

One of the latest and greatest additions to the Party Pier is “Cages”, the multi-sports bar and games facility in the Zhujiang Beer Museum. Otherwise, nosy into one of the many pounding clubs like W-Suns or cowboy bar Mr Rocky.

There is a new development behind the Canton Tower with the relocated GOAT from Huajiu Lu.

Tips: Catch the Haizhu tram from the Canton Tower to the Party Pier station. It can be difficult to get home, late at night, due to the long taxi line – Area B. Therefore, exit the Party Pier from Area A if you can hail a ride share.

• Zhujiang New Town (珠江新城): Expat Central

As Guangzhou's modern business district, Zhujiang New Town offers an upscale nightlife experience with a variety of international restaurants and stylish bars. The foreign bar street has gravitated to Huajiu Lu (华就路) with classic Brit pub “Morgans,” the newly opened grill, "Butcher’s Block", the hole-in-the-wall bar “ATOC”, and Mexican cantina “Bandidos.”

There is a craft beer house and a Vietnamese restaurant on the bar street too. Around the corner are Americana joints “Gails” and “13 Factories”, while Indian restaurant ‘Little Papa’ is a staple.

While in the Kingold building is the original flagship Happy Monk branch.

Tips: As Zhujiang New Town is a concrete jungle, use Zhujiang New Town metro station exit B1 or cross Guangzhou Dadao after exiting B of Wuyangcun metro station. That said, there are also many stops in Zhujiang New Town along the AMP Line which runs between Canton Tower and Linhexi metro stations.

•  Liede 猎德 (Destination Delights)

The ‘other half’ of Zhujiang New Town on the other side of the central axis park that bisects the new city is Liede. The rocking Irish bar “Hooleys” is centre stage for live music, and down the eat-street, Xinsheng Lu is the late-night club “OMMA”.

Xinsheng Lu runs into Liede Dadao, and the opposite side Liede Commercial Tao, with a slew of joints in the faux-European building development. Down Liede Dadao towards the river is ‘Lieren Feng’ which is another new development along a creek with ‘ancient’ buildings. There is an Italian and a Turkish along the canal promenade in Qing dynasty-style buildings.

Pop into the shopping centre, GTLand Plaza – Autumn building for lunch at the “Eating Table,” while the concept restaurant Ganea is opposite W Hotel.

Tips: Liede station is on Line 5 and is a wonderful walk from Zhujiang New Town’s central axis park to sightsee all of the city’s tallest buildings. Underneath the park runs Guangzhou’s driverless people mover, and the AMP Line is a short walk to Liede from Huacheng Dadao station.

•  Taojin 淘金 (Garden Hotel Area)

Taojin or the ‘Garden Hotel area’ was the original foreigner zone in Guangzhou. The first expat watering holes like the Hill Bar (despite what Tripadvisor says) and the Elephant Castle are long gone.

However, one of Guangzhou’s earliest and largest restaurants, the “Sultan” is still as popular as ever with queues during Canton Fair time. Sultan’s is a splendid Turkish restaurant, while "Mado" is a contemporary Turkish dinner with great ice cream (gelato).

On one side of the Garden Hotel, the street ‘Jianshe Liu Ma Lu’ was once Guangzhou’s “red light” district, however, it has long ago shaken off its reputation. When 2010’s Asian Games were hosted in Guangzhou, the street was cleaned up and is currently a construction site for the metro. Expect in late 2025 or 2026, that Jianshe Liu Ma Lu will return to its former glory once the construction is complete.

Taojin has several Indian Indian Bombay Grill in the Overseas Chinese Village and Little Papa in the Asia International Hotel. Further down Huanshi Dong Lu is Guangzhou’s ‘Little African’ area, Xiaobei with several Nepalese, Turkish and Middle Eastern restaurants.

Tips: Taojin station and Xiaobei metro stations are on Line 5 and are easily walked between along Huanshi Dong Lu. Keep an eye out for the opening of Jianshe Liu Ma Lu metro station when Line 13 is completed.

•  Panyu (番禺): Party in Panyu

Panyu, located to the south of the city, is home to a growing expat community and features a variety of international restaurants and entertainment options. Whether you're after a taste of Western cuisine or a more relaxed bar setting, Panyu has a lively scene that is an alternative to the city centre.

Around the metro station Nancun Wanbo, Panyu’s new city centre is rising with its own growing gravity. Look out for a development called Fours Seas with a North American craft bar, the GOAT, German beer hall Paulaner Wirsthaus, Italian restaurant Porto Cervo Pizzeria and Chinese mega club Catwalk.

There are various Western cuisines across the large district of Guangzhou and we recommend checking out Memo Shawarama.

• Dongshankou (东山口): Historic Hipster Hood

Dongshankou is a charming district offering a variety of international dining spots, from Western-style cafes to fusion restaurants. Known for its turn-of-the-century architecture, this historic area is full of hidden gems tucked away on its lively narrow streets.

Tips: There are trendy speakeasies and tiny bars that you might need an advanced booking. Our pick is the authentic Italian pizzeria “Hideaway Temple”.

• Tianhe Downtown (Malls and Neighbour Bars)

Before the rise of Zhujiang New Town, the Tianhe downtown had many foreign establishments. In its many mega malls downtown Tianhe there are still corporate chains Taco Bell or Outback Steakhouse. However, there is still a French and a Russian restaurant plus a discotheque.

Tips: More interesting than mega malls is the ‘Olympic’ village behind them between Huangpu Dadao and Tianhe Lu. Once the athlete’s village for the 1990 China National Games, and is now home to many cute neighbourhood bars, cafes and restaurants.

No matter where your favour destination in Guangzhou is “Lanzhou Lamian” is the ubiquitous choice for foreigners travelling in China. This simple fare from northwest China has its appeal for its street-level convenience and price, but its appeal to the Western taste buds. A bowl of hearty beef stretched noodles with savoury and zesty flavours is a must-try for Western taste buds. 

If you look out for a white and green Chinese restaurant with halal food a foreign favour is always around.

Want to check out out some of our to picks?   Check out the Zhujianger City Guide.

What is your favourite destination in Guangzhou? Is there anything that you want to know about dining and nightlife in Guangzhou? Comment below.